But for the beat guy, there is a downside to that bizarre-beyond-belief 6-5 shootout win by the Sharks on a night when they finally knew they were going to the playoffs. When a game runs that long — and this one didn’t end until 10:33 p.m., print edition deadlines mean only the briefest of reporting time for me in the locker room afterward.

Which means you don’t get a lot of material.

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Fortunately, the Kings PR crew puts out one of the better quote sheets in the NHL. And while it was too late to make it into the game story in the right-hand column, here’s what was being said in both locker rooms.

First, maybe the strangest moment in a strange season: Ryane Clowe extending his stick off the bench late in the third period to break up a Kings’ odd-man rush down the ice.

I just filed an online sidebar on the subject, but why not repeat it here as well. The bottom line is Clowe acted as if an attorney had advised him to admit nothing. Twice he was asked about it, twice he dodged the issue.

Here’s the sidebar:

LOS ANGELES – The most bizarre moment in the Sharks’ 6-5 shootout victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night came late in the third period when forward Ryane Clowe was sitting on the bench and extended his stick onto the ice to break up a possible scoring threat.

The capacity crowd inside Staples Center saw it happen and it was caught by TV cameras, but referees Stephen Walkom and Brian Pochmara missed it so no penalty was called.

In the locker room afterward, Clowe twice appeared to be feigning ignorance of the move when asked about it by reporters.

“I have no idea what you guys are talking about,” Clowe said. “I’ll have to see the video or something. Someone show me the video.”

But the Los Angeles locker room was very aware of what happened.

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“What do you think my thoughts are?, Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. “You can’t call too many men on the ice. What do you call it-too many sticks?

“I’m surprised because Jarret [Stoll] was carrying the puck and nobody else saw it,” Sutter continued. “It’s not the question of whether I’ve seen it before. I’m just surprised it didn’t get seen.”

Stoll was bringing the puck down the sideboards when Clowe appeared to interfere with play, something that could have earned the Sharks a penalty for too many men on the ice – at the very least.

“I knew it was from the bench, for sure,” Stoll told the Los Angeles Times. “I knew there was a guy behind me and he was maybe a couple strides behind me. I knew that. I knew it definitely came from their bench . . .I knew right away. That’s why I reacted the way I did. Maybe I should have kept playing and shut my mouth.

“Tough call. Tough play,” added Stoll, who said the officials told him they simply didn’t see it. “You hope one of them could see that. They’ve got a tough job to do, too.”

Stoll did seem to stop short of saying the play cost the Kings a scoring chance.

“Who knows what would happen on the play,” he said, “but nobody’s ever seen anything like that.”

*****Now here’s the supplemental quotes, right off the sheet provided by the Kings:
TODD MCLELLAN: (game recap) “I knew there was going to be a lot of emotion. I thought it was going to be a hard game. I didn’t anticipate us scoring five. I didn’t count on us giving up five as well. So there’s a lot more offense in it than I thought there would be. Most of it came from special teams situations. It was a heck of a game, a lot of emotion. The fans were in it, a playoff-type atmosphere.”

(On making the playoffs and getting the win): “For the fourth night in a row I’m going to say the same thing. We’re not going to get too high and we don’t get too low. We’ll rest tomorrow and then we know we’ve got another big game to play. I’m glad that game will really mean something because it will set us up and, I’m sure, LA up for a good playoff run.”

RYANE CLOWE:(game recap): “I think it was one of those games where I think both teams took more penalties than they probably usually do. They’re a top PK team, we’re one of the top PP teams and we were fortunate that our power play was really good tonight, obviously. That sort of game tonight was not really expected but we went at each other hard…It was a playoff game. Playoff atmosphere, emotion. Physical. We played pretty well seeing as we played LA last year in the playoffs. There’s a lot on the line, obviously with the division, but one of the things was our character tonight, how we battled thought it.”

DARRYL SUTTER: (on the four power play goals): “I don’t think that was the reason why we got one point. The other team has probably the top two or three power plays in the league. We spent a lot of time in the penalty box. If you add up all of the minutes and if they didn’t score on three of them you’re probably killing about 15, 16 minutes. It’s almost impossible to beat teams like that.”

(on clinching playoff spot): “I don’t look at it as a relief. I’m not relieved to make the playoffs. That’s why you play the game, right? I look at it as that’s what you’re supposed to do.”

DREW DOUGHTY: (Fighting): “It was my first fight. I probably need to learn how to do it a little better but it was good to kind of get both teams going.”

(controversial play): “I’ve never seen that before. That could have been the difference in the game if the refs would have caught that. Sometimes they aren’t going to see things; I’m sure it’s hard for them to catch that but if they got that it would have been a 5-on-3 and another good chance for us to capitalize. The game is over now and they didn’t and now we just have to look forward to the next game and we have to win.”

(four PP goals): “In order to be successful in the playoffs, special teams are so important; you’re only getting one or two power plays per game and we need to score every time on them if we can. Today was a good start and I still think it has a lot of room for improvement.”

******Sharks practicing at noon on Friday. Will be interesting to see if Clowe had a better recollection of what happened.

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

cap-o-113
I agree with you about PM. But don’t agree with your comparison to Clowe. 2 totally different players with different skill sets – what Clowe contributes on the ice and the LR can’t be easily quantified. But getting back to PM – hes always been one of my favorite players. Even tho PM hadnt scored for a bit he’s been working hard behind the scenes. Hes been surprisingly physical on his checks lately. I think PM is often mis-judged because of his reserved controlled public personality. Fans misjudge that exterior as “lack of passion.” And the fact that he does things so seemingly effortlessly, fans expect he can do even more. That’s unrealistic – he’s playing as best he can, he just doesn’t show a lot of emotion while he’s doing it and he doesn’t grab the mic after games to promote himself. He’s still our best forward and in the POs he will score clutch goals as he always does, which people will forget.

By the way, where are the resident douchebags after last night’s game? Nothing to complain about?

Good! Shadddup!

David H

Great play Clowe.

Have to admit that this team shocks me again by actually making the playoffs, but now for the cup. Do we have what it takes.

I do not want to be proven right, I want to be wrong, but still have reservations about this core group of over 30’s.

Lets go Blues!!!

David H

Just for those of you who did not understand the last comment, the Blues are taking on the Yotes tonite. I’m not a closet St Louis fan.

Hockeystick Graph

Ryan “Woody Hayes” Clowe…

…like it or hate it, the man showed a missing Shark ingredient in the playoff soup; PASSION.

David H

Hey Ryan 99, Intent to injure does not require blood. And yes there is such a thing as a 5 minute boarding call. Maybe you don’t understand the rules as well. Don’t throw stones in your glass house.

slappy

Ryan@100
“the refs missed two dives, one non-obvious on Quicks interference penalty (calling the dive would have offset the interference), the other on the tripping call on Koptar. ”

I agree with you on those 2. BUT what about the lame call on Marleau’s phantom hook that gave LA a 5 on 3? Or that extra 2 minute “roughing” penalty that got tacked onto Clowe’s fight with Matt Greene?

Officiating was equally bad towards both teams.

nolimits (DET-Diva)

From ProHockeyTlak:
Ryan Clowe won’t be suspended or fined for playing the puck from the San Jose bench last night in a game against the Kings, reports Puck Daddy (citing an NHL source).

According to the rulebook, the only way the league can hand out supplemental discipline is if the player gets involved from the bench during a stoppage in play.

For what Clowe did, the only possible punishment is a minor penalty.

In a related story, every single NHL team just purchased one of those long pool-cleaning poles.

We actually wonder if this will be one of those issues that gets addressed immediately, a la the so-called Sean Avery Rule of 2008 that called for a penalty to be assessed “when an offensive player positions himself facing the opposition goaltender and engages in actions such as waving his arms or stick in front of the goaltender’s face” after Avery did exactly that to Martin Brodeur.

Of course, given the NHLPA was upset the Avery Rule was imposed by the league during the playoffs without going through the competition committee — plus the fact we’re talking about supplemental discipline, not a minor penalty — it might be tough to address now.

—
On Thursday night, Campbell concluded, “The goal should not have counted.”

However, Campbell also affirmed that the final result of Wednesday’s game would not be changed, even though the on-ice ruling was clearly wrong, saying, “Once the game is over, it’s over.”
—

It *was* wrong, it *was* cheating, and the NHL decided that they couldn’t alter the game. So, you’re completely in the wrong, here.

2. WRONG again. A 5-minute major was correctly called because of the intent to injure — Clifford made _no_ attempt to play the puck, and deliberately cross-checked Couture in the back into the boards, and skated a long way to do it. It’s an obvious candidate for supplemental discipline. Clowe’s would have been a 2-minute interference penalty. That’s comparing cannonballs to oranges.

4. You left out the hit on Mitchell, which was late and a hit in the back. That was a cheap shot, too.

“Read, learn and repeat till it sinks in. But you’ll fire back with something stupid.”

Mr. Pot, I have a Mr. Kettle on line 2. Shall I tell him to call you black?

— Geri(h)atric, member in good standing SBoTTM, SCWaPJV & PGiNaGNaR

nolimits (DET-Diva)

Sorry I posted same as someone else…reloading the page is going SLOWW today.

BASS

Major props to Pavelski for saving a goal with Nemo down and out as the Kings buzzed around the net. Pavs plays goalie!!!

GSDI!!!

renoshark

“Ryane Clowe should apologize to Sharks fans for interfering with the game from the bench.”

Daryl O,

Huh? I don’t think so. I’m buying Clowe drinks next time I see him. He’s ok in my book.

IVBum

Ryan # 98,

I’m afraid you’re wrong about major penalties. I think you’re thinking of double minors. An injury is not a criterion for a major. Major penalties for boarding are given at the ref’s discretion based on the violence level of the hit. So don’t come on here and lecture us about our hokey knowledge. Clifford saw Logan’s numbers the whole way. He clearly intended to put Logan’s face into the boards. That was dirty hit, according to the officials, and that’s why he got the major.

You’re right that the 5 on 5 battle went to the Kings, but guess where the 2 points went? And the last time I checked, that’s what counted.

@BASS (#112): Oh, yeah. I forgot about that play. The Big Pavelski was on his game last night.

Here’s hoping he keeps it up. I like the way #8 plays — he has the same kind of drive that got Pete Rose the nickname “Charlie Hustle”.

— Geri(h)atric, member in good standing SBoTTM, SCWaPJV & PGiNaGNaR

bsman

Hey Bass — don’t be surprised. Since Pavs is already one of our best forwards AND best defenders (PP, etc.) it shouldn’t surprise us he can play GK, too!!!

slappy

Don’t forget the spectacular save by Burns early in the first period. Nemo was down the puck was just an inch from crossing the goal line when Burns put his stick down (with a mass of LA player humanity around him in the goal crease) to prevent the puck from counting as an LA goal. BB flicked the puck out of harms way to the side boards.

Shrk2th

Slappy #108: I agree with your observation on the phantom Marleau hook. I remember thinking that must have been a make up call from something earlier.

And Ryan…. (yawn)

WR221-d

Geri(h)atric #110; beers will be on me if we ever meet up!

dudleydawson

Cap 0-13: you also missed that Marleau was a #2 overall pick and makes $7mil a year. Marleau is 6’2, 220 but is 2 ply charmin soft. Fastest guy on the team, could translate to a great forchecker while slow pavs ands jumbo finally catch up but he never utilizes his speed of size any more.

Slappy, if he’s our best forward, who would you rather have go down with a season ending injury, him or Jumbo? This team lives and dies by Thornton’s play.

slappy

dudley@120
Ok -you got me – Marleau is one of our team’s top forwards

GDub

The lack of a call on the Clowe play was way worse than the effects of the actual play. To call that a scoring chance when it’s essentially 3 on 3 play in the neutral zone is stupid. My only opinion about the play itself is that it was unbelievably boneheaded. I love Ryane Clowe and I agree that he is a heart and soul guy and that his move may have been boiled over raw passion to win….but man was that stupid. I mean, mind-blowing idiotic. It doesn’t change my opinion of him other than that I don’t regard him as the….how shall i say….well, he ain’t the coldest beer in the fridge. A 5 on 3 would have been harsh there. Not an automatic goal like nimrod Kings fans want to think. But alas, all it was at the end of the day was a missed call. It was about as blatant a missed call as you can get…maybe the most blatant ever…but just a missed 2 minute call nonetheless. Those happen all the time

I do think Clowe should fess up and apologize. I agree the refs might not take too kindly to looking like idiots. Maybe him admitting guilt and calling it “heat of the moment” idiocy would spare ref retribution.

bsman

for all those begging Clowe to apologize: How many times have you heard a referee apologize for blown calls that ruin a game?

Buddy Elf

Amazing that no one mentioned the multiple punches to the face of Sharks players after the play stopped on multiple occassions, uncalled, Some of the punches were from the same Kings donkeys whining about Clowe in the article.

Was it a dumb play? Absolutely, it could have cost the Sharks the game.

Was it worth of a suspension? Kings fans who think so are fooling themselves.

Was it hilarious? Hell yah!

——–

Geri: Thanks for that LA kings (non)goal link! I think the NHL’s stance, while crappy for the Sharks cuz the Sharks couldnt get enough points to make the tiebreakers worthless, is the right stance.

Doug H

Read rule 56.2-interference. And then quietly stop talking about this.

Missed call, nothing else, boo hoo.

slappy

GDub@122
I see no good coming from a Clowe apology. Using an excuse ( essentially lying) of “it was a heat of the moment impulsive act” would just add to the anger felt by the LA Kings and their fans. And it would remind the Refs – again – that they missed a pretty obvious ( albeit “unusual”) penalty. Honestly I think Clowe and the Sharks should move forward and hope all the brouhaha blows over asap. I would suspect that Refs more than anything want this issue to die, get buried. Do players apologize to the Refs for non-calls on penalties. I cant remember that ever happening before and Clowe should just follow past precedent – zip his yap and thank the Hockey Gods for their leniency in the privacy of his home.

Bitty

Hey Ryan @10:38am, ironic that you would call out Sharks fans for not knowing “jack” about hockey. Per NHL rules:

41.1 Boarding – A boarding penalty shall be imposed on any player or goalkeeper who checks or pushes a defenseless opponent in such a manner that causes the opponent to hit or impact the boards violently in the boards. The severity of the penalty, based upon the impact with the boards, shall be at the discretion of the Referee.
41.3 Major Penalty – The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a major penalty, based on the degree of violence of the impact with the boards, to a player guilty of boarding an opponent.

Do you see anything in there about the player having to be injured or bleeding? No, I didn’t think so. Additionally, I was forced to watch the LA coverage last night since it was all that was available on Center Ice – Jimmy Fox was immediately concerned that the hit was going to result in a major and wasn’t surprised when it did.

Nice try, though.

MLBSF

SanJoseCupCrazy says:
April 6th, 2012 at 10:44 am

By the way, where are the resident douchebags after last night’s game? Nothing to complain about?

Good! Shadddup!
———

Did you need the phone number to the Sharks publicity department SCC?

I’m pretty sure they’re in the office today.

Clowe’s Backhand

What a great gift to all fans from both teams last night. I expect next game to be a tighter low scoring game.
Didn’t see anyone mention the fact Mitchell was completely defenseless to that hit. Maybe the karma category had that coming to the sharks for the rediculous schedule they had, irregardless I could care less.
I think I’m starting to like mlbsf……NOT! Love his silence though.

Oscarthedog

So Ryan (#100)

If a player takes a two handed slash across the back of the neck and doesn’t bleed that’s only a two minute penalty because there was no blood? Be facetious but that’s as an absurd a statement as yours.

And Geri(h)atric at #110. Great review of a bigger travesty than the Clowe play, which everyone here now knows was a 2 minute minor at best, not a game changing result. Loved hearing Doughty whine about there should be a suspension. Hey Drew, how does the face feel after Thornton used it as a punching bag.

This week is the Sharks team we’ve been waiting for from the start of the season. Why so long is all I’m asking?

Clowe’s Backhand

Spoke too soon. And I think SJCC was talking about Cooch’s BFF.

2Teal4You

All the Clowe is classless comments are hilarious. Apologize to the sharks fans? Really? Maybe apologize to the kings but that’s a stretch. Kings fans should be pissed, but that’s about it. The late 5-on-3 was a bit of a gift and it earned them a point.

SJ played the entire game down a forward due to a pretty “classless” hit from behind and weren’t awarded a penalty.

The shot of Clowe on the bench saying “that was stupid” was pretty funny.

Here’s to the failed predictions of the sharks missing the playoffs.
MLBS = zero credibility.

—
On Thursday night, Campbell concluded, “The goal should not have counted.”

However, Campbell also affirmed that the final result of Wednesday’s game would not be changed, even though the on-ice ruling was clearly wrong, saying, “Once the game is over, it’s over.”

* this is an article the day after that game and before any investigation and conclussion. There was no ruling that showed the Kings did anything wrong. The clock is operated by NHL staff. You dont know that? And that is the current status. You wont find anything to dispute this with credibility. But nice try
—

2. WRONG again. A 5-minute major was correctly called because of the intent to injure — Clifford made _no_ attempt to play the puck, and deliberately cross-checked Couture in the back into the boards, and skated a long way to do it. It’s an obvious candidate for supplemental discipline. Clowe’s would have been a 2-minute interference penalty. That’s comparing cannonballs to oranges.

/* You missed the whole point and just repeated someone else.
Clowe’s shameful actions were the worse than any other penalty last night. I’m going beyond injury speculation and into the “never been done before” category. try rereading it.

*Again, the Kings didnt cheat. Show me where the NHL says they did. It was NHL employees in charge of timekeeping.

4. You left out the hit on Mitchell, which was late and a hit in the back. That was a cheap shot, too.

* You left out the dive behind the Kings net by some shark player

“Read, learn and repeat till it sinks in. But you’ll fire back with something stupid.”

Mr. Pot, I have a Mr. Kettle on line 2. Shall I tell him to call you black?

*Yep, you fired back with something stupid and its here for all to see.

Johnny San Jose

MLBSF — You’ve sternly said, since November that the Sharks wouldn’t win the cup. That’s a pretty easy predicition if you ask me. My question to you is… who will win the Stanley Cup? This should be pretty easy now that the number is reduced from 30 to 16.

Just one answer please.

MLBSF

@133 2Teal/Sharks Publicity Dept:

Actually the prediction I made last fall cannot possibly be proven wrong unless the Sharks win the Cup.

If you can pull a quote of me saying in October and November that the Sharks were going to miss the playoffs, go for it.

So you can keep repeating your propaganda and put out all the false and misleading press releases you want.

That Bearded Puck

Hey MLBSF,

Can you heal people in addition to doing predictions? Cause I have this pain in my neck. . . .

MLBSF

Johnny San Jose says:
April 6th, 2012 at 12:04 pm

MLBSF — You’ve sternly said, since November that the Sharks wouldn’t win the cup. That’s a pretty easy predicition if you ask me. My question to you is… who will win the Stanley Cup? This should be pretty easy now that the number is reduced from 30 to 16.

Just one answer please.
——–

Well Johnny,

I think it was an easy prediction, even though 90 percent of Sharks fans disagreed with me.

Why do you think it’s an easy prediction? Are you telling me you agreed with me in the Fall? I never heard you predict the Sharks wouldn’t win the Cup.

How do I know who is going to win the Cup? It won’t be the Sharks, Kings, Coyotes, Capitals, Senators, Panthers or Devils.

That’s all I can tell you.

2Teal4You

Bronx

* You left out the dive behind the Kings net by some shark player

You mean the play where Quick sucker punched Dominic Moore into the net? If your a queens fan calling that a dive youre just showing your subjective view of hockey.

Check out Mathew Barry’s post on hockeybuzz. You’ll find an objective view on the game from a respected Kings writer.

Not gonna read all 137 posts to see if this has been discussed, but two things about what Clowe did:

1) From what I understand it would be a bench minor for interference (Rule 56.3) not Too Many Men

2) I understand that it probably caught Stoll off-guard, but if you watch the play, if he had just continued to persevere instead of whining for a call, he could easily have regained control of the puck and continued his rush.

That Bearded Puck

If Clowe had hit Stoll with is stick from the bench, then maybe it could be seen as more than a 2 minute minor. I am pretty sure Clowe only touched the puck, didnt even touch Stoll’s stick. I am not sure how this can be compared to sneaking up behind another player to shove them face first into the boards.

Other than that, this is what the playoffs are going to be like. Not too surprised to see the Refs getting in playoff shape as well.

—
*Yep, you fired back with something stupid and its here for all to see.
—

You’re entitled to your opinion — which is all you’ve spouted. You’ve been shown several times how Clifford’s penalty was a legit major with intent to injure, and Clowe did something to earn a 2-minute minor for interference. Don’t let the facts get in your way.

You’ve been shown how LA cheated and accepted 2 points they weren’t entitled to due to tampering with the clock, and shown nothing to back up your opinion.

I’ve said my piece, backed it up, and stand by it. And I won’t waste any more time with you, because I have had more productive arguments with furniture.

Enjoy rooting for the Kings. Just please try and get some information before telling people what’s going on — we have enough uninformed posts around here, and don’t need more.

L’chaim.

— Geri(h)atric, member in good standing SBoTTM, SCWaPJV & PGiNaGNaR

Buddy Elf

MLBSF sure has a ton in common with these Kings fans. They come on this board, obviously don’t know anything about hockey, and hate on the Sharks.

MLBSF… just another LA fan.

SanJoseCupCrazy

MLB Douchebag! Welcome back! The stench was there — I just couldn’t SEE you. Good to see you’re still not enjoying yourself. While the rest of us reveled in one of the most exciting games we’ve seen in a couple of years, it must have KILLED you to see all of the players you hate so much stepping up and pulling one out for us. I know, it hurts when the team you’re supposedly a fan of has success. It must be KILLING you right now. And damn, now you have to watch them in the PLAYOFFS, which you HAVE predicted time and again they wouldn’t make.

So you know what, Nazarus? Since you predicted they wouldn’t be here, why don’t you disappear for the duration until they’re done? Then you can come back in here and run your crap and whine and complain and act like a douchebag all you want.

Bottom line, dude: I’m just glad I don’t approach life the way you do. Only miserable people can be so negative all the time and I truly feel sorry for you.

Sammy

did I actually see someone mention that Clowe should apologize to sharks fans??? That’s freakin hilarious.

Good for Clowe for being passionate and kicking some ass out there. Somebody buy that guy a beer.

…I made some, loudly and repeatedly, that the Sharks would end up in the #9 spot, and out of the playoffs.

I ain’t gonna lie, dodge, or shuck ‘n’ jive; I said it then, I believed it then, I was wrong. The *worst* the Sharks can do is #8, and they have a decent shot at a #3 seed — beat LA and have Phoenix lose at least one in regulation.

Based on the way they were playing, I said what I said. And they played better, and proved me wrong. (Honestly, last night, when they went down 3-1… I thought it was over.)

@Sammy (#147): I think McLellan needs to take Clowe out to the woodshed for that one. Really, really dumb play, and we’re lucky it didn’t’ cost the Sharks the game. And I expect it’ll make the refs watch him *very* closely for awhile.

He got away with one. I admire the spirit, and the two fights, and that *sweet* blocked-shot-to-breakaway goal (did you see how fast he launched that one over Quick?)… but doing something that dumb won’t work again. Keep the intensity, but keep your head, Ryane.

And has anyone noticed that Havlat came back from his injury and is looking *really* good lately?

— Geri(h)atric, member in good standing SBoTTM, SCWaPJV & PGiNaGNaR

Doug H

Maybe pavelski should apologize for snowing Howard intentionally in that playoff series.